texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed, Trappernewt, casyoo
71987 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,413
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,764
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics536,987
Posts9,719,151
Members86,987
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
Don't make it complicated #5897804 08/26/15 11:49 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,857
C
cmc Offline OP
THF Trophy Hunter
OP Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
C
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,857
Sorry just realized this is long and not very well written but oh well.

I was considering an elk hunt this year and started thinking of all the gear I "had" to have. I'm not a gear junky, in fact I often don't even take what I do need so when I started thinking of what I needed I thought back to my first elk hunt. Back in 1997 I was 18 years old, I had no real direction in life and was and still am mostly uneducated so I pretty much just ran around like an idiot hunting and living like a bum. When October came that year I said hell with it I'll go try to kill an elk in Colorado.

I drove to Colorado bought a license at the first gas station and drove up a mountain and went to sleep. I had a borrowed 30-06, a summer tent, one pair of not warm boots, and no camo, no guide, no nothing. Long story short I used what I knew about hunting to kill a 5x5 on public land. Did I get lucky? Hell yes I did. Could I have gotten lucky if I wasn't in the woods? Hell no I couldn't.

I hear people all the time worry about the right camo, the right scent cover, this bullet, that bullet and they let this effect their time in the woods or even how they feel about what they took. Hunting is not that hard, deer are not as smart as the guy selling the next big buck secret would have you believe.

Yes they have a good nose, so don't hunt where they can smell you, yes they see pretty well, so don't hunt where they can see you, yes they hear well so don't make a bunch of noise.
There's no reason to buy brand new everything every year because Lee and Tiffany did, use what you got and get out there.

Hunting skills can be applied to hunting anywhere, once you learn how to hunt and use the land, the wind, the sun, and trees to your advantage you can kill any critter anywhere. Don't make it hard. The best way to learn is to be out there. Deer are not that hard to kill and I promise they won't mind a bit if you shoot a 140 grain or 180 grain bullet. Don't worry about it, learn to shoot and go shoot something.

Last year my friend who hunted probably more hours than most of you reading this but has never fired a gun in his life bought me a pack of broad heads from Walmart, the cheapest ones they had on clearance. They were on clearance because no one bought them because this company does not have a Rage size advertisement compain. These heads were sharp and flew straight, I killed two deer and a hog with the three heads. He couldn't believe I used them on a deer and when I asked why wouldn't I, he said I just never seen this kind on TV or anybody use them. I quickly explained how he had been duped. I'm not saying if Rage called and said we would like you to shoot our heads I wouldn't, because I would they work, but I'm not gonna spend $40 on heads when a $5 head will work. An inch is an inch is an inch, no matter who makes the head if you poke a hole in a deers lungs one inch wide he WILL die period.

I don't have to shoot what I shoot, I could buy a new bow every year or I can take $1000 and go hunting. Learning the skill of hunting and the art of stalking is way more important than the brand you use.
Keep it simple and don't think the brand is what killed that deer, it was you and your skill that killed it.
I catch more hell for the gear I use than anybody Ive ever seen and I kill at least a half dozen animals with a bow a year and that many more with a gun. Once you realize your skills are why you take more game and not because you had some Bone Collector garb you'll have more fun and the only way to become more skillful is to be out there learning.
I'm not running down anyone's style if it's working for you by all means continue to do it but don't let the lack of a new bow or the lack of the best advertised broadhead keep you away from the woods.

Ive seen several people on this forum asking questions about will this kill a deer, will this kill a hog, the answer to all these questions is yes, it's always yes, if you have the skill then most anything will work.

I taught my kid long ago about shot placement and how to read a deers body language, watch his tail, is he alert is relaxed. All these things will make your hunt better so that you don't have to blame your poor shot placement on a bullet or a broadhead. When a deer jumps the string and your Rage hits high and the deer don't die it's not the Rages fault, it's your fault. When you shoot at a deer walking and hit him in the brisket and find a little blood and some hair but no deer it's not Core Lokts fault, if you had hit that deer in the lungs you'd be on here telling us how great of a bullet they are.

Well I'm rambling, my point is go hunting, stay out of Cabelas, learn how to hunt not how TV tells you to hunt. It's not that hard don't make it complicated.

Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5897830 08/27/15 12:00 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,788
dogcatcher Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,788
banana cheers banana banana cheers banana banana cheers banana banana cheers banana banana cheers banana banana cheers banana

banana cheers banana banana cheers banana banana cheers banana banana cheers banana banana cheers banana banana cheers banana

banana cheers banana banana cheers banana banana cheers banana banana cheers banana banana cheers banana banana cheers banana


Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back.
_____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________

[Linked Image]
Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5897879 08/27/15 12:19 AM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29,010
W
Western Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
W
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29,010
Said the same thing for years, put down that Field and Stream and get in the woods.

Good "rant" CMC


If at first you dont succeed, then skydiving is not for you..

"Don't trust everything you read on the Internet"- Abraham Lincoln

Dennis

Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5897906 08/27/15 12:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,857
S
Simple Searcher Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
S
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,857
Well done up
And Happy Birthday


[Linked Image]

"Man is still a hunter, still a simple searcher after meat..." Robert C. Ruark
Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5897938 08/27/15 12:58 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,161
S
SouthWestIron Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
S
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,161
Absolutely awesome! This will be a mandatory read for both my boys(19 and 21).
Very well said.

Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5897956 08/27/15 01:05 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
S
stxranchman Offline
Obie Juan Kenobi
Offline
Obie Juan Kenobi
S
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
cheers


Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?[Linked Image]
Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5897979 08/27/15 01:15 AM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 52
W
woolyhogtail Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
W
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 52
way to go, truer words were never spoken

Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898094 08/27/15 01:51 AM
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091
A
Always ready 2 hunt Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
A
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091
AMEN! happy3

Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898124 08/27/15 02:06 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,853
txshntr Online Content
T-Rex Arms
Online Content
T-Rex Arms
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,853
One of the best rants I have read on here clap


[Linked Image][Linked Image][Linked Image]
Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898134 08/27/15 02:12 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 162
B
Bobby Frey Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
B
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 162
Good stuff

Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898180 08/27/15 02:33 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
N
Nogalus Prairie Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
N
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
It's true.

I'd be willing to wager that there are many guys who spend more time at Cabelas/Bass Pro and watching hunting shows than spending time in the woods.

Example: Both Cabela's and BassPro have a fall weekend "campout" event where Dads bring their kids to the store for a weekend and they sleep in a tent, watch videos, eat stuff from the little restaurant inside the stores, try out gear, etc. All inside the store.

All I can think of is how sad that is. I mean, if you can do that - take your kid camping outdoors for heaven's sake!!


Originally Posted by Russ79
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.


Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898200 08/27/15 02:40 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,496
H
Halfadozen Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
H
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,496
up


Freedom is a fragile thing ...Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again.
-- Ronald Reagan


Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898208 08/27/15 02:43 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605
fouzman Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605
Didn't find your diatribe to be rambling in the least confused2

Your words were obviously founded in experience. You did a fabulous job of articulating something so complex.

Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: Nogalus Prairie] #5898232 08/27/15 02:54 AM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,510
R
rickym Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
R
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,510
Originally Posted By: Nogalus Prairie
It's true.

I'd be willing to wager that there are many guys who spend more time at Cabelas/Bass Pro and watching hunting shows than spending time in the woods.

Example: Both Cabela's and BassPro have a fall weekend "campout" event where Dads bring their kids to the store for a weekend and they sleep in a tent, watch videos, eat stuff from the little restaurant inside the stores, try out gear, etc. All inside the store.

All I can think of is how sad that is. I mean, if you can do that - take your kid camping outdoors for heaven's sake!!


That makes me feel bad, for the kids. They would be better off if they were in boy scouts at the least



Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898322 08/27/15 03:42 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 474
E
erok11 Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
E
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 474
Well said ... cheers

Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: erok11] #5898334 08/27/15 03:53 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179
T
therancher Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
T
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179
Awesome rant!

But I still accept the fact that some people need/want a different experience. And I'm fine with that.


Crotchety old bastidge
Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: therancher] #5898342 08/27/15 04:01 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,853
txshntr Online Content
T-Rex Arms
Online Content
T-Rex Arms
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,853
Originally Posted By: therancher
Awesome rant!

But I still accept the fact that some people need/want a different experience. And I'm fine with that.


I would agree. I have a buddy that shows up at the first of the season in the newest camo, has the latest bow, designer arrows, a bag full of gadgets and gimmicks, and he loves every minute of it. Says that he gets to start "hunting" before all the others. I don't think he can drive past a Cabela's or BPS without seeing what is on the shelves. More power to him


[Linked Image][Linked Image][Linked Image]
Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898344 08/27/15 04:01 AM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,204
L
LuckyHunter Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
L
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,204
Enjoyed the post clap

Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898356 08/27/15 04:11 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,735
P
passthru Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
P
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,735
Happy birthday.


I work hard, drink a little and hunt when I can.
NRA Life Member
https://sofalasafaris.com/
Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898360 08/27/15 04:16 AM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 20,988
BuckRage Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 20,988
I agree but I also don't begrudge someone elses way to experience their life.

If you mind your own business you won't be minding mine.


[Linked Image]
Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898364 08/27/15 04:19 AM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
T
titan2232 Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
T
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
You and I can argue till we're blue in the face about baseball/football, but not on this subject at hand. Great job and well said. The guys on my lease keep picking at me because I'm the only one left riding the lease on a four wheeler while they're sporting $15K-$20K side by sides.

I tell them the four wheeler works just fine and hell I can even drive my darn truck to my spot to fill feeders. Different stuff for different folks I suppose.



Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898375 08/27/15 04:25 AM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
T
titan2232 Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
T
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
Example:

BIL: .257 Mag, muzzle break, nightforce, and entire gun coated desert camo to shoot deer @ 100 yards. Cost: $5,000

Me: .270 with a Nikon 4.5X14 to shoot the same distance. Cost: Not remotely close in comparison.

Would I like to have his set-up? Well hell yes. Do I need it? Not at all. It's all about priorities.



Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898429 08/27/15 10:11 AM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,857
C
cmc Offline OP
THF Trophy Hunter
OP Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
C
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,857
I ain't saying what other people do is the wrong way unless it keeps you from being out there. I got a buddy gets a new rifle about once a year, he has over 30, I'm all for it but he also hunts less because of it. If guns are your thing then go for it but don't buy a $3000 rifle and then have to work four Saturday's out of deer season to pay for it and not get to use it. An old man told me once, invest in the experience you'll be better for it.

Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: cmc] #5898447 08/27/15 11:06 AM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,581
D
decook Online Content
Extreme Tracker
Online Content
Extreme Tracker
D
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,581
Cmc this is well "rit" and a true message at the same time. Thanks, this is a timeless post.


Press [Linked Image] for an AMERICAN.
Re: Don't make it complicated [Re: txshntr] #5898468 08/27/15 11:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,638
P
Pitchfork Predator Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
P
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,638
Originally Posted By: txshntr
Originally Posted By: therancher
Awesome rant!

But I still accept the fact that some people need/want a different experience. And I'm fine with that.


I would agree. I have a buddy that shows up at the first of the season in the newest camo, has the latest bow, designer arrows, a bag full of gadgets and gimmicks, and he loves every minute of it. Says that he gets to start "hunting" before all the others. I don't think he can drive past a Cabela's or BPS without seeing what is on the shelves. More power to him


Marc C. Helfrich
Retirement Planner

www.insured-wealth.com
469-323-8920
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3